closed Liverpool 2-2 Chelsea

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Just now, Jason said:

Apart from the penalty miss against Frankfurt last season, Azpi has always been clinical from the spot for us. Was a tad curious why he wasn't one of the first five takers.

True again, maybe ahead of Emerson but would of expected Jorginho, Barkley, Mount, Tammy to be ahead of Azpi in the first 5 due to them having been regular penalty takers/very good from a dead ball. 

[Vesper 30,186]

1 minute ago, Jason said:

Apart from the penalty miss against Frankfurt last season, Azpi has always been clinical from the spot for us. Was a tad curious why he wasn't one of the first five takers.

hindsight is 20/20

if Tammy wants to be a baller, he needs to step up and put the ball into the net as often as possible

I cut him no slack

only thing I would have done differently is let him go 2nd

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

9 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Agree it's a right passion killer, like Nora Battys bloomers.

 

Those were the days FB women with apple catcher knickers and minges that were so hairy they looked like a barbers floor 

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

I probably hat this so much beause I am German. We have been to 8 world cup finals, more than any other country, only winning 4 of them but being the worse side in all of them as well.

[Vesper 30,186]

Just now, Magic Lamps said:

I probably hat this so much beause I am German. We have been to 8 world cup finals, more than any other country, only winning 4 of them but being the worse side in all of them as well.

PK's are a German's best friend, lololol

[Superblue 6,372]

Very pleased with tonight, just a huge disappointment having come so close to lose like that but it's put a marker down for the season to show we can still compete with the top teams.

This has been a baptism of fire for Lampard, he couldn't have had it much more difficult but I feel there has already been a significant improvement across both games. I mentioned at half time that he will make mistakes this early on in his managerial career but tonight was an example that he will identify and learn quickly from those mistakes and we'll be better long term as a result (note the Leeds play off second leg game too as another example of this).

We were so much more defensively solid today across the park. The pressing was far less frenetic and was operated in a far more calculated manner, but was similarly effective to the first half at Old Trafford and kept us being hit constantly on the counter attack. The midfield dominated throughout the game, Kante has improved immensely on the ball and all three are so comfortable with it. Some of the play at times was excellent and enjoyable to watch, there always seemed to be an intent to our play. The willingness of players to run in behind was a very good sign. Pulisic in particular was very direct and I think will cause a lot of teams problems in that way this season.

Kante was definitely man of the match, I cannot possibly fathom how someone misses pre season and then puts that performance in for 120 minutes.

Zouma still looks uncomfortable on the ball but looked far more solid tonight which was very encouraging.

I also thought Pedro had an excellent game, after his poor showing against United. Again a 32 year old who has won the lot putting in the shift he did tonight isn't just testament to his character and drive but it's huge for the younger lads we have in the squad to see the work rate one of the most senior players is putting in.

Also just a note on Tammy Abraham. I've looked back at a number of posts pretty much writing him off already. Let's give the kid some time shall we? He's come in and first two games had to face up against the two most expensive centre backs in world football. There are aspects of his game that are raw but his work rate gives a completely different option to Giroud and I'm pretty certain once he bags his first goal, more will follow. It's easy to pan him for a poor penalty but I remember Ronaldo sticking his penalty straight down Cech's throat in Moscow. I'd far rather look at the character he has to step up and take such a high pressure penalty for us. 

[Pizy 18,918]

Though I thought Azpi was much better than he was against United, I can't help but think what we'd look like with a fully fit Reece there. Emerson is such a breath of fresh air at LB now that he seems fully settled. He's a true weapon going forward like clubs such as Liverpool and City have. He's also solid defensively.

If we had two modern fullbacks it opens up so many possibilities for us. 

[Superblue 6,372]

A couple of other very pleasing aspects were the reactions to conceding the goals. 

For a few minutes after Liverpool's first we looked like we had lost our shape and it seemed to be a bit of a panic but we quickly composed ourselves and whilst we weren't as effective in the second half, we prevented Liverpool from dominating us thereafter.

The reaction to the second goal too was promising. It would have been easy for our heads to drop, especially with some of the younger, less experienced lads on the pitch by then but we dug in and got a thoroughly deserved equaliser.

 

[LAM09 7,056]

Why isn’t Batshuayi playing? I want an actual explanation. 
I go off defending Tammy after the United performance and this is how he repays me. Missing a sitter and a shit penalty. 
Giroud for Sunday 

The club don't want him to get injured prior to a move. Only logical explanation at this point.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

We have still just scored 1 goal from open play with about 20 golden chances missed. I dont expect this to become betzer with the current personnel.

[Vesper 30,186]

31 minutes ago, Iggy Doonican said:

Fuck Liverpool and VAR. VAR is such bollocks if like me tonight you're in the pub you're cheering a goal and next second your deflated if it's offside raise the fucking flag straight away don't let the game carry on. VAR was brought in simply  to appease some fucking Malaysian business men who are pissed off that their gambling syndicate is losing money while some poor fucker who's paid thousands of pounds to watch his team play has no idea what's going on.

VAR will ruin football mark my words you saw it on Saturday in the City- Pikies game and things will only get worse.

that is not VAR Iggy

that's the linesman keeping the flag down until the play is completed

I watch a tonne of other leagues so I am used to it

[Johnnyeye 7,510]

fml, just fuck off you lucky scousers, thats all i have to say. Chelsea deserved this no doubt, very good performance and response from the team after the loss to United, but VAR (absolute joke) and missed chances screwed us over, so typical of our luck. Absolutely gutted for the lads, Pool can fuck off.

[NikkiCFC 8,324]

 

[Vesper 30,186]

5 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

 

oh wow,did not see that

[NikkiCFC 8,324]

1 minute ago, Vesper said:

oh wow,did not see that

Better pic.

[Vesper 30,186]

4 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Better pic.

FFS!!

THAT is what VAR is for!!!!

[Vesper 30,186]

shit, now I am pissed all over again

[LAM09 7,056]

Better pic.

I can't stand shit like this. Enforce the rules all the time or abolish them.

[cosmicway 1,333]

I don't care about pens.
It's part of the game, it's make or break (e.g. Eintracht) but it's a random thing - we could just  as easily lose to Aston Villa on penalties.
The team showed some considerable qualities yesterday, against the nominally strongest opposition in Europe.